Saints Countdown To Kickoff With The History Of Number 76

Saints Countdown To Kickoff With The History Of Number 76 originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

There are now 76 days before the New Orleans Saints start their 2025 regular season. They’ll begin their 59th NFL campaign, first under new head coach Kellen Moore, at home on September 7 against the Arizona Cardinals.

Offensive lineman Will Clapp currently has the number 76 for New Orleans. Clapp spent his first four years as a Saint between 2018 and 2021, but wore No. 64 at that time. He returned to New Orleans this offseason on a one-year contract.

If Clapp makes the roster and keeps this number into the regular season, he’ll be the 17th New Orleans player to suit up in number 76. Here’s a look back at the others.

Saints History of 76 Sep 17, 1967; FILE PHOTO; New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Dave Rowe (76) and linebacker Dave Simmons (53) tackle Los Angeles Rams running back Dick Bass (42). Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons- Imagn Images

Sep 17, 1967; FILE PHOTO; New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Dave Rowe (76) and linebacker Dave Simmons (53) tackle Los Angeles Rams running back Dick Bass (42). Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons- Imagn Images

• Dave Rowe, DT (1967-70)• Don Morrison, OT (1971-77)

• Kevin Hunt, OT (1978)

• Jim Pietrzak, C (1979-84)

• Dwaine Board, DE (1988)

• Keno Hills, G (1996-98)

• Tutan Reyes, OT (2001)

• Jonathan Goodwin, C (2006-10)

• Pat McQuistan, OT (2011)

• Akiem Hicks, DT (2012-15)

• Tony Hills, OT (2015-16)

• Tony McDaniel, DT (2017)

• Taylor Stallworth, DT (2018)

• Calvin Throckmorton, T/G (2021-22)

• Camron Peterson, DT (2024)

• Austin Deculus, OT (2024)

• Will Clapp, C/G (present)

Feb 7, 2010; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) prepares to take the snap from center Jonathan Goodwin (76) during Super Bowl XLIV against the Indianapolis Colts. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Dave Rowe was the first to wear 76 for the Saints and probably the best in franchise history to do it. A second round pick by the Saints out of Penn State in the 1967 NFL Draft, Rowe was with the team for its first four years of existence.

Over his four years and 56 games with New Orleans, Rowe had 16.5 (unofficial) sacks and earned Pro Bowl honors in 1968. The Saints traded Rowe during the 1971 offseason. He’d play the last eight of his 12-year career with four different teams, winning Super Bowl XI with Oakland.

Don Morrison was the first offensive player to suit up in 76 for the Saints. A fourth round pick in the 1971 NFL Draft, Morrison was with New Orleans for the first seven of his nine NFL seasons.

New Orleans Saints offensive lineman Don Morrison (76). Credit: Pinterest

During Morrison’s time with the Saints, he made 92 starts over 94 game appearances. His seven years and 94 games with the team are the most for any player who has worn 76 for the franchise.

Jim Pietrzak was the next Saints player to wear 76 for more than one season. Predominantly a center, Pietrzak appeared in 77 games for New Orleans between 1978 and 1984, but made only 7 starts.

Between 1985 and 2006, there were only three players to wear number 76 for New Orleans. Just one of them, Keno Hills, did it for more than one season. Hills played three years as a Saint, appearing in 22 contests and starting seven of them.

New Orleans Saints defensive lineman Dave Rowe (76). Credit: Pinterest

In 2006, the Saints acquired Jonathan Goodwin in free agency. Goodwin played in 29 of 32 games between 2006 and 2007, but wouldn’t be a regular starter until two years later. Between 2008 and 2010, Goodwin would anchor one of the top offensive lines in the NFL.

Goodwin played in 74 games between 2006 and 2010, making 47 starts. During the Saints Super Bowl XLIV championship season of 2009, Goodwin would earn the first Pro Bowl of his career. He’d return to New Orleans for his final season in 2014, but wore number 55 during the year.

After Goodwin’s first departure from the Saints in 2011, eight different players wore 76 through the 2024 campaign. Only two of them, Akiem Hicks and Tony Hills, managed to wear it for more than one season.

Sep 15, 2013; New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Akiem Hicks (76) rushes against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-Imagn Images

Hicks was an underrated but disruptive part of some otherwise bad New Orleans defenses. He played 48 games and made 33 starts for the Saints between 2012 and early in the 2015 season before being traded to the Patriots. Over that span, Hicks recorded 6.5 sacks with 19 QB hits and 16 tackles for loss. He was traded to New England just three games into the 2015 season.

Since Tony Hills, only defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth and offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton stuck around in number 76 for at least a year. Will Clapp now takes his turn in the number, hoping to add some quality depth to a New Orleans offensive line that had none of that last season.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.

Saints Countdown To Kickoff With The History Of Number 76

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